This series of guide is specially catered for start-ups which would like to move forward with BIG ideas. With this compendium, we hope to rev up your IP knowledge in just 10 minutes. Each Patent 10 minutes guide consists of 10 slides - one brand new topic every week. Check out facebook.com/patsnap.

1. Patent and start-ups
- Can we patent?
2

2. Overview
• What can be patented?
• What cannot be patented?
• Is your invention patentable?
Caution
This is a very intensive set of Patent 10 minutes slides.
But don’t let it intimidate you. Your best buddy who can
accompany you for the next 10 minutes… A cup of coffee.!!

3. What can be patented?
Process
Process for
making a
chemical
compound
Machine
Television
Smart phones
Manufactured
Article
A bicycle
A Table
Composition
of matter
A shampoo
A cleaning
solution
Patentable Subject Matter

4. What cannot be patented?
Idea or suggestion
Scientific theories or
mathematical
formulae
E.g. E=mc2
Biological process for
the production of
plant or animal
E.g. photosynthesis
A method of
treatment or diagnosis
E.g. Biopsy
Animal
E.g. Your pet dog
Law of nature
E.g. Gravity

5. Is your invention patentable?
NovelNovel
UsefulUseful
NonNon--obviousobvious
Your invention can only be patented if you satisfy the all the NUN criteria.

6. • Your invention is compared to anything that is
created in the past
• Not publicly disclosed in any form,
anywhere in the world
• If disclosed, it must not be more than 1 year
prior to the date of patent application
(also known as Prior Art in United States)
Novel

7. • Your invention must have
a useful purpose.
• Rejection on utility is not
very common.
• If so, present one of the
following:
– a working model (esp. for
medical inventions),
– testimony of experts, or
– test results.
Useful

8. Non-obviousness
• Toughest criteria to pass as it can be very
subjective
• Differences between your invention and prior art
to a skilled person with the working knowledge in
the relevant field
• Consider the following factors:
– Scope and content of prior art
– Level of ordinary skill in the art
– Differences between prior art and
claims at issue

9. That’s not all…
We have more to distress you….

10. Your invention must also be…
Credible
Don’t bother to prove that a time machine works.
Practical
If your invention involves crushed rocks of nano-size and
there is no machine that can produce that, your invention
is equally useless.
Patented by the inventor him/herself
Even the family members are not allowed to file for the
patent.

11. If your invention is…
known in U.S. before your date of invention
patented or described anywhere in a printed
publication ≥ 1 year before you file your application
already in use in U.S. ≥ 1 year before you file the
application
patented elsewhere before filing an application in U.S.
(unless the foreign application was filed ≤ 1 year
before the U.S. application)
Then, you should modify or reinvent your invention….
because your invention cannot be patented in U.S..

12. About IP guide for Start-ups
Visit www.facebook.com/patsnap for your weekly dose of Intellectual Property guide for early ventures,
written by PatSnap’s PaTENt minutes’ team.
Rev up your IP knowledge in just 10 minutes. Each Patent 10 minutes guide consists of 10 slides.